Curtain support



Jan. 9, 1940.

M. LANGE CURTAIN SUPPORT Filed Sept. 23, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w IW .n l n Hl .n WWHMWHMWH Hlunuuh fis. 3

M. LANGE CURTAIN SUPPORT Jan., 9, 1940.

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/fMQM/q ArroRMe-X Patented Jan. 9, 1940 UNIT-ED STATES fcUaTAIN SUPPORT Morris Lange, Cleveland, Ohio, assigner to The Superior Funeral Supply Company, Cleveland,

Ohio

Application September '23, 1938,'SerialNo. 231,384

4 Claims.

This invention relates to supports for curtains and particularly tothe collapsible or folding type of framework suitable for hanging the draped backgrounds used in funeral parlors.

L; The principal object of the invention isto provide a simple, compact and light weightfolding stand which maybe readily adjusted as to height and width.

Another object is to provide a device of the lo type mentioned which may be readily lset up or taken down by one person who need not be particularly skilled inthe art, andwithout a loss of time or other inconvenience.

A further object is to provide such device with cross arms which are formed to receive `a prefabricated drape.

Still another Objectis vtoprovide va drapery'support of the type mentioned with a lighting fixture suitable for illuminating the foreground.

These and other objects and vfeatures of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description and claims together with the accompanying drawings in which like parts are designated by like reference characters and wherein:

Figure 1|, is apartial rear view of the support with curtains suspended therefrom;

Figure 2 is a front view'of the Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear View of the assembled-frame;

Figure 4 is a side view of thepartially assembled frame;

Figure isa horizontal sectionalview of the frame taken along the lines 5 5 ofthe Figure '4;

Figure 6 is a View oi a portion of Figure 5 showing a part of the lightingiixture 'and the clamp for attaching the same tothe support;

Figure 7 is a rear elevation rof theFigurejG;

Figure 8 is a iront view offa removable scroll member towhich is attached aside curtain panel;

Figure 9 is an enlarged elevation .of 'part 'of a cross arm vand part of a scroll rnember'particularly showing the means of attaching "them'together; l i

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the lines lll-.lll of the Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an elevation Aof the base member folded and the support member telescoped therein;

Figure 12 is an enlarged View of apart ofthe folding base member particularly showing spring clamp or snap hook for retaining same in an open position;

Figure i3 of the folding cross arms;

ilu

is a top view of a swivel joint on one Figure 14 is an elevation of the swivel joint shown in the Figure 13;

Figure 15 is an elevation of the top cross piece of the `telescopic supportshowing two sockets and parts of the horizontal arm members engaged therein, and

Figure 16 is a top view yof the crosspiece referred to in the description of the Figure 15.

The present invention in general consists of the following parts; the folding base A, thetelescopic support B, the 'folding horizontal arms C, the pre-formed removable scroll-like end members or hangers D attachedto the arms, the lighting xture E attached to the support, and the sections of textile curtain F suspended from the arms, the hangers and the fixtures. Each of the said parts will be hereinafter described in detail and yin the order herein 'set'forth The base A is a folding or collapsible tripod consisting of a tubular collar 20 to which vare hinged the three legs'2l. A smaller collar 22-is suspended belowthe collar 2| by the-'brace members 23 which are `hinged tothe collar 22 and to the legs 2| in a manner which spreads or spaces the legs 2| as the collar 22 is raised or lowered or drawn to or separated from the larger tubular collar`20. In order to prevent the base A from moving or tipping, one of the legs 2|aA has'attached to it a small horizontal foot 24 upon'which some heavy object may be placed. 'I'his is usually the bier on which the casket is displayed before the curtain F. Also, in order to prevent the base from collapsing unintentionally a snap clamp or hook 25 is hinged to the collar 20 with a spring 26 so arranged that when the collar 22 approximates the collar 20,'the hook 25A automatically grasps and holds the two collars together until manually released or separated.

The ysupport B is merelya series of tubes'and'a rod 'telescopically assembled. The large lower tube 30"'ts into the collars 20'andf22 of the base A and receives the'small upper tube 3|. I'The rod similarly fits and slides into the small tube 3|. The tops `of each ofthe tubes 3U and 3|v are `equipped with thumb screw fasteners 33 and ,33a respectively, `so the height or extension ofthe tubes 30 and 3| and the rod 32vmay be adjusted or varied as needed. The lower tube 30 is fastened to the lower collar 22 with the pin 34, while the upper collar 20 is*v slideable up and down on it. This- ,is clearly illustrated in the Views of Figures 4, 11 and 12. The apex of the rod 32 isprovided with a cross piece 35 whichhas .two parallel rectangular vertical sockets 36, the openeach is similar in shape, size and construction.

Each arm member lconsists of a long or inside member 40 and a. short or outside member 4l. The long inside arm 40 has a downwardly extending lug 42 which fits one of the sockets 36. The extreme outside end of the short member 4I is provided with a threaded bolt and a wingnut 43 and the two arms 4D and 4I are swivelly. connected by the threaded pin and wing-nut 44'.'

The Figures 13 and 14 illustrate how the arms 40 and 4I are swivelly joined together.

The scrolls or hangers `D are spirally curved metal strips 5U, the outer ends of which are provided with simple slotted sockets 5l which engage the extreme ends ;of the short arms 4l. The bolt and wing-nut 43 securely holds the arm 4l in the socket 5l. The assembled arms 40 and 4l and the attached scroll 50 are all preshaped and pre-fabricated for the outline and design desired for the curtains to be hung thereon. This feature is clearly illustrated in the Figure 8.

The lighting fixture E is a long metal troughlike member 60 the inside of which is polished and the front side 65 of which is flat and slightly inclined to reflect the light upward. The inside ofthe trough 60 is provided with suitable electric light sockets or other means for retaining and contacting the long narrow type of electric light bulbs 6I. To the sockets there is attached the conventional cord and plug 62 for connection to f the current supply. The trough-like member iii! is closed. at both ends, and mid-way between the ends there is attached a pinch-clamp 63. The pinch-clamp 63 is hinged and is equipped with a bolt and wing-nut 64 to hold it rigidly to the support B and is easily attached or detached. The pinch-clamp 63 is attached so that the opening of the trough-like member is horizontal, faces upward and is in the center of the frame.v The height of the fixture E may be regulatedy by the positioning of the pinch-clamp 83. The Figures 6 and 7 clearly illustrate the design and construction of the pinch-clamp 63 and the Figures Lland 5 show the mannerof attaching the iixture E to the support B.

The curtain F consists of several sections or panels. vThe center section lll ismade in one piece and is shaped and shirred across the top to conform to the configuration of the two right and left arm members 40 and 4i `and is also made to accommodate the extensionV therethrough of the pinch-clamp 63 ci the light xture E.

The two right and left sidev curtain panels l2 are suspended similarly from the scrolls D. However, it has been found in practice that considerable time and eifort is saved by permanently attaching the curtain panels 12 to the pre-formed scroll-like end `hangers D; and also considerable material is saved by having just a limited amount of thematerial hang from the rear ol' the scroll D, as that part of the panel is not crdinarilyvisible. lThe construction of the side` curtain panels 12 is shown in the Figure 8.

The lower curtain front or middle drape 73 is `similarly fringed and shirred across the top and is'provided with hooks 'H so that it can bek suspended from the side 65 of the trough mem-` ber 60. When so suspended the lighting fixture E is entirely covered and concealed from view, the reiiected light only being apparent when the assembled drapery support is viewed from the front. This feature is quite clearly illustrated in the Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings.

It should be noted that the herein described drapery support may also be used without the lighting xture E and the middle drape 13 if desired. For that reason the center section 10 ofthe curtain is made the full length.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of this invention it may be well to point out that under- ,takers are frequently called upon to set up biers in private homes or halls and therefore a compact, light-weight collapsible device that has the appearance of a heavy permanent structure is often highly desirable. Also it is advantageous to have a frame that can be adjusted as to height and width to meet unusual conditions. The device herein described may be conveniently set up by one inexperienced person with little delay and also may be dismantled without loss of time.

It will now be clear that there is provided by this invention a curtain support which accomplished the objects of the invention. While the invention has been described in its preferred form and while certain general terms and specific language have been used, it is to be understood that the` embodiment of the invention as described is illustrative only and is not to be considered in a limiting sense. It is to be further understood that there are other forms of the invention which will suggest themselves to persons making, using or selling similar devices and those modifications as well as the modifications of the illustrated form are all considered to be within the broad scope of the invention as no limitations upon it are intended other than those imposed thereon by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A draped background for funeral biers, including a vertical support having curtain carrying means at its top, curtains `connected to and suspended from said carrying means, a horizontal member formed to receive lights `for disposition in front of the curtains, means carried by the member and extending through the curtains and rearwardly thereof to support the'member, means to adjustably connect the member supporting means to the vertical support to enable the member to be disposed in varying vertical positions, front curtains having upper parte disposed adjacent the upper portion of the member, and means to connect the front curtains to the member, said means for connecting the member to the support, being detachable whereby to enable the background to be used with the member and its curtains removed. n i

2.k A draped background for vfuneral biers, in accordance with claim; 1, wherein the horizontal member consists of a trough and wherein the front curtain extends over the front ci the trough to conceal the latter, and whereiny there are hooks which engage over the top edge of the front of the trough for detachably' connecting the front curtainsto the trough.

3. A draped background for funeral biers consisting of a support, a curtain carrying means at the top -of the support and connected tothe latter, substantially spirally curved members aJ the ends of the curtain carrying means and connected thereto, curtains connected to the curtain carrying means and depending therefrom, curtains connected to the front and outer side portions of the curved members, and short curtains attached to the rear portions of the curved members whereby to impart a continuous curtained eiect when viewed from the front and top portions of the curved members. 1

4. A draped background for funeral biere, including a vertical support having aeentral top member, curtains connected to and suspended from said top member, side members oldably connected to the ends of the central member and having substantially spira-ily curved outer end portions, curtains connected to and depending from the front and outer side portions of the curved portions, short curtains connected to the rear portions of the curved portions and depending therefrom whereby to impart a continuous curtained eect when viewed from the front and top portions of the curved portions, a horizonta member formed to receive lights for disposition in front of the curtains of the central and side members, means carried by the horizontal member and extending rearwardly through the curtains'to support the horizontal member, means to adjustably connect the supporting means to the vertical support to enable the horizontal member to be disposed in Varying vertical positions, a front curtain having upper parts disposed adjacent the upper portion of the horizontal member, and means to connect the last named ourtain to the horizontal member, said means for connecting the horizontal member to the support being detachable whereby to enable the background to be used with the horizontal member and its curtain removed.

MORRIS LANGE. 

